Enhanced photo-catalytic cells

ABSTRACT

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for ionizing air includes a first reflector and a first target. The first reflector receives direct UV energy (from a UV emitter) and reflects it to form reflected UV energy. The first target has an inner face that also receives direct UV energy (from the UV emitter). The first target also has an outer face that receives the reflected UV energy from the first reflector. The faces of the first target are coated with a photo-catalytic coating. The first target may also have passages between the faces.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/284,743 filed on Oct. 4, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/065,041 filed on Oct. 28, 2013, and issued asU.S. Pat. No. 9,457,122 on Oct. 4, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/225,812 filed on Sep. 6, 2011, and issued asU.S. Pat. No. 8,585,980 on Nov. 19, 2013, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/115,546filed on May 25, 2011, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,585,979 on Nov. 19,2016, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/380,462 filed on Sep. 7, 2010, all of which are herein incorporatedby reference in their entireties.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatuses forproducing an enhanced ionized cloud of bactericidal molecules.

Photo-catalytic cells may be employed to produce bactericidalmolecules—such as cluster ions—in airflow passing through the cells. Thecells may be positioned to ionize air that may then be directed into atarget environment, such as an enclosed space or room. Emergingmolecules from the cells may have a bactericidal effect on variousbacteria, molds or viruses which may be airborne in the room or may beon surfaces of walls or objects in the room.

Typically, such cells may be constructed with a target including orcoated with a photo-catalytic coating and surrounding a broad spectrumultra-violet (“UV”) emitter. This combination can produce an ionizedcloud of bactericidal molecules. The target may be coated with titaniumdioxide as well as other elements. As air passes through or onto thetarget, UV energy striking the titanium dioxide may result in acatalytic reaction that may produce the desired cloud of bactericidalmolecules within the airflow. These molecules—upon contact with anybacteria, mold, or virus—may kill them.

Effectiveness of a photo-catalytic cell may be dependent on theconcentration of the bactericidal molecules. Furthermore, it may bedesirable to have higher concentrations of cluster ions as compared tooxidizers. Consequently, it may be desirable for improvedphoto-catalytic cell designs to improve the efficiency of cluster iongeneration.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus forionizing air includes a first reflector and a first target. The firstreflector receives direct UV energy (from a UV emitter) and reflects itto form reflected UV energy. The first target has an inner face thatalso receives direct UV energy (from the UV emitter). The first targetalso has an outer face that receives the reflected UV energy from thefirst reflector. The faces of the first target are coated with aphoto-catalytic coating. The first target may also have passages betweenthe faces. These passages may pass direct UV energy from the UV emitterto the first reflector. In an embodiment, the first reflector is aspecular reflector or may have a curvature. The first target may alsohave a curvature. The curvature of the first reflector may be less thanthe curvature of the first target. The target may have a shape of acylindrical, corrugated, or foil portion. The apparatus may also have asecond reflector similar in some or all respects to the first reflector.The apparatus may also have a second target similar in some or allrespects to the first target. In this case, the first and second targetsmay be separated by a gap between their leading edges and/or a gapbetween their trailing edges. It is also possible for the leading edgesto touches and for the trailing edges to touches.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus forionizing air has a first reflector and a target. The first reflectorreceives direct UV energy from a first UV emitter and reflects this UVenergy. The first reflector may be a specular reflector and may beparabolic. The target has a first face that also receives direct UVenergy from the first UV emitter as well as the reflected UV energy fromthe first reflector. Furthermore, the target has a second face thatreceives direct UV energy from a second UV emitter. These faces arecoated with a photo-catalytic coating. The apparatus may also have asecond reflector that receives direct UV energy from the second UVemitter and reflects this UV energy towards the second face of thetarget.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method forionizing air includes: receiving, at an inner face of a first target, UVenergy from a UV emitter; responsively generating ions at aphoto-catalytic coating on the inner face of the first target;reflecting, at a first reflector, UV energy from the UV emitter to formreflected UV energy; receiving, at an outer face of the first target,reflected UV energy from the first reflector; and responsivelygenerating ions at a photo-catalytic coating on the outer face of thefirst target. The method may also include one or more of the following:passing, through a plurality of passages in the first target, UV energyfrom the UV emitter and towards the first reflector; passing an airflowover the inner and outer faces of the first target to carry the ionsaway from the first target; receiving, at an inner face of a secondtarget, UV energy from a UV emitter; responsively generating ions at aphoto-catalytic coating on the inner face of the second target;reflecting, at a second reflector, UV energy from the UV emitter to formreflected UV energy; receiving, at an outer face of the second target,reflected UV energy from the second reflector; responsively generatingions at a photo-catalytic coating on the outer face of the secondtarget; passing, through a plurality of passages in the first target, UVenergy from the UV emitter and towards the first reflector; passing,through a plurality of passages in the second target, UV energy from theUV emitter and towards the second reflector; passing an airflow over theinner and outer faces of the first target to carry the ions away fromthe first target; and passing the airflow over the inner and outer facesof the second target to carry the ions away from the second target.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method forionizing air includes: receiving, at a first face of a target,ultra-violet (“UV”) energy from a first UV emitter; responsivelygenerating ions at a photo-catalytic coating on the first face of thetarget; reflecting, at a first reflector, UV energy from the first UVemitter to form reflected UV energy; receiving, at the first face of thetarget, reflected UV energy from the first reflector; and responsivelygenerating ions at the photo-catalytic coating on the first face of thetarget. The method may also include one or more of the following:passing an airflow over the first face of the target to carry the ionsaway from the target; receiving, at a second face of the target, UVenergy from a second UV emitter; responsively generating ions at aphoto-catalytic coating on the second face of the target; reflecting, ata second reflector, UV energy from the second UV emitter to formreflected UV energy; receiving, at the second face of the target,reflected UV energy from the second reflector; responsively generatingions at the photo-catalytic coating on the second face of the target;and passing an airflow over the first and second faces of the target tocarry the ions away from the target.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus forionizing air has a first foil target portion and a second foil targetportion. Each of the foil target portions has passages and an inner facethat receives direct UV energy from a UV emitter. The inner faces arecoated with a photo-catalytic coating. The leading edges of the foiltarget portions may be touching or separated by a gap. Similarly, thetrailing edges of the foil target portions may be touching or separatedby a gap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a photo-catalytic cell, according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view of a photo-catalytic cell, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the photo-catalytic cell of FIG.2 taken along the line 3-3, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 shows a graph illustrating a difference in performance of aphoto-catalytic cell with and without UV reflectors, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5-11 show various apparatuses for ionizing air, according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of a method for ionizing air, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of a method for ionizing air, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofcertain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understoodwhen read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes ofillustration, certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It shouldbe understood, however, that the claims are not limited to thearrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.Furthermore, the appearance shown in the drawings is one of manyornamental appearances that can be employed to achieve the statedfunctions of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.Various inventive features are described below that can be usedindependently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide aphoto-catalytic cell in which one or more reflectors may be positionedto reflect UV energy and increase a proportion of emitted UV energy thatstrikes a target in the cell at high incident angles.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a photo-catalytic cell 10 may include anelectronics box 12, a light pipe indicator 14, a power cord 16, achamber 18, honeycomb targets 20, UV reflectors (22-1, 22-2, and 22-3),and a UV emitter or lamp 24. The honeycomb targets 20 may be coated withtitanium dioxide.

Airflow may pass across the honeycomb targets 20 while UV energy may beapplied to the target 20 by the lamp 24. A photo-catalytic reaction maytake place in the presence of the UV energy. The reaction may producebactericidal molecules in the air.

Referring to FIG. 3, the efficacy of the UV reflectors 22-1 may beillustrated. If a reflector 22-1 is not present, an emitted ray 26 mightpass through the honeycomb target 20 without impinging on the titaniumdioxide. However, when one of the reflectors 22-1 is present, anillustrative emitted ray 28-1 of UV energy may impinge on the UVreflectors 22-1. The ray 28-1 may be reflected to become a reflected ray28-2. It may be seen that the reflected ray 28-2 may impinge on asurface of the honeycomb target 20. It may be seen that a hypotheticalunreflected ray 26, which might follow a path parallel to that of theray 28-1, might pass through the honeycomb target 20 without impingingon the target 20. Thus, presence of the reflector 22-1 in the path ofthe ray 28-1 may result in avoidance of loss of the UV energy from theray 28-1. The reflectors 22-1 may be relatively small as compared to thesize of the honeycomb target 20. The small size (about 10% of the sizeof the target 20) may allow for minimal airflow obstruction. In spite oftheir relatively small size, the reflectors 22-1 may be effectivebecause they may reflect virtually all of the (normally lost) UV energythat is emitted in a direction that is almost orthogonal (e.g., within±5° of orthogonality) to the outer vertical plane of the honeycombtarget 20. Hence, UV energy may pass through the honeycomb target 20without touching the titanium dioxide surface. But by reflecting the UVrays onto the opposite side target matrix, that energy could be capturedand utilized so as to add to the total ion count within the desiredcloud of ionized molecules. In other words, the number of ions createdby any incoming UV ray is proportional to the sine of the incident angleθ between the UV ray path and the titanium dioxide surface that a givenray is impacting, as illustrated by the following trigonometricrelationships:

-   -   For θ=90° Sin(θ)=1 Maximum energy gathered    -   For θ=0° Sin(θ)=0 Minimum energy gathered

Reflectors 22-3 may be interposed between the lamp 24 and walls of thechamber 18. UV energy striking the reflectors 22-3 may be reflected ontothe honeycomb target 20. Thus presence of the reflectors 22-3 may resultin avoidance of loss of UV energy that might otherwise be absorbed ordiffused by walls of the chamber 18. Similarly, reflectors 22-2 may beplaced in corners of the chamber 18 to reflect UV energy onto thehoneycomb target 20.

The reflectors 22-1, 22-2, and/or 22-3 may be constructed from materialthat is effective for reflection of energy with a wavelength in the UVrange (e.g., about 184-255 nm). While soft metals such as gold andsilver surfaces may be effective reflectors for visible light, theirlarge grain size may make them less suitable than metallic surfaces witha small grain size (e.g., hard metals). Thus, hard metals such aschromium and stainless steel and other metals that do not readilyoxidize may be effective UV reflectors and may be particularly effectivefor use as UV reflectors in a photo-catalytic cell. Material with a UVreflectivity of about 90% or higher may be suitable for use in thereflectors 22-1, 22-1 and/or 22-3. Lower reflectively produces lowereffectiveness. To achieve the level of reflection required, it may benecessary to micro-polish or buff a selected materials reflectivesurface.

Reflecting surfaces of the reflectors 22 may be electrically conductiveand/or grounded. Specifically, surface coatings (added for oxidationprotection) like glass, clear plastics, or clear anodization (e.g.,non-conductive) may diminish any performance enhancement of aphoto-catalytic cell.

Also, reflecting surfaces of the UV reflector 22 may produce surfacespecular reflection. Specular reflection may be, for example, amirror-like reflection of light in which a single incoming light ray isreflected into a corresponding single outgoing direction. Specularreflection is distinct from diffuse reflection, in which a singleincoming light ray is reflected into a broad range of directions.Diffuse reflection may diminish performance enhancement of aphoto-catalytic cell.

In an embodiment of the photo-catalytic cell 10, the reflectors 22-1,22-2 and 22-3 may be chromium-plated plastic. Chromium-plated plasticmay be a relatively low cost material with a relatively high degree ofreflectivity for UV energy. So-called soft chrome, such as the platingused to produce a mirror-like finish that is seen on automobile chromedsurfaces, may be employed.

It may be noted that there may be other cell shape designs which are notrectangular. For example, the cell 10 may be circular, tubular, or mayhave an otherwise complex shape. For these non-rectangular shaped cells,an optimum reflector design may be curved or otherwise non-flat inshape.

Referring to FIG. 5, an apparatus 500 for ionizing air is shownaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 500includes a UV emitter 510, a target 520, and a reflector 530.

The UV emitter 510 may emit direct UV energy (e.g., 184-255 nmwavelengths). The UV emitter 510 may be a lamp (e.g., fluorescent, LED,laser gas-discharge, etc.). The target 520 may have an inner face 522and an outer face 524. The inner face 522 may be arranged to face or toreceive direct UV energy from the UV emitter 510.

The reflector 530 may receive direct UV energy from the UV emitter 510.The target 520 may have passages between the inner and outer faces 522,524. As an example, the passages may be slits (e.g., ½″ long) or holes(e.g., ¼″ diameter). Such slits may be horizontally arranged (as shown)or transversely arranged (e.g., from leading edge towards trailingedge). There may be a distance between each passage (e.g., ½″ for thehorizontal arrangement or ¾″ for the transverse arrangement). Thepassages may be in rows. For example, the rows may be separated fromeach other by ½″ . The passages may have a thickness, such as thethickness of a nickel.

The direct UV energy may pass through these passages and towards thereflector 530. The reflector may reflect this direct UV energy, and theouter face 524 of the target 520 may be arranged to receive thisreflected UV energy. The reflector 530 may include a specular reflectorand may specularly reflect the UV energy. The specular reflector may begrounded.

The inner and outer faces 522, 524 of the target 520 may be coated witha photo-catalytic coating such as, for example, a coating that includesTiO₂ that facilitates the generation of ions in response to receivingthe UV energy (direct and reflected).

Referring to FIG. 6, an apparatus 600 for ionizing air is shownaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 600may be, in many respects, similar to the apparatus 500. The apparatus600 may include a UV emitter 610, a first target 620, a first reflector630, a second target 640, and a second reflector 650. The second target640 may be opposite the first target 620. The second reflector 650 maybe opposite the first reflector 630.

Both targets 620, 640 may have inner and outer faces coated with aphoto-catalytic coating to facilitate the generation of ions in responseto receiving UV energy. Both reflectors 630, 650 may include specularreflectors. The inner faces of the targets 620, 640 may receive directUV energy from the UV emitter 610. The reflectors 630, 650 may alsoreceive direct UV energy from the UV emitter 510. For example, direct UVenergy may pass through passages in the targets 620, 640 to reach thereflectors 630, 650. The reflected UV energy from the reflectors 630,650 may be received at outer faces of the targets 620, 640.

The inner and outer faces of the targets 620, 640 may be coated with aphoto-catalytic coating such as, for example, a coating that includesTiO₂ that facilitates the generation of ions in response to receivingthe UV energy (direct and reflected).

One or both of the targets 620, 640 may have a curvature. For example,the target(s) 620, 640 may have a shape of a cylindrical portion. One orboth of the reflectors 630, 650 may also have a curvature. The curvatureof the target(s) 620, 640 may be greater than the curvature of thereflector(s) 630, 650.

The targets 620, 640 each may have a leading edge and a trailing edge.The leading edges may be upstream of an airflow from the trailing edges.The leading edge of the first target 620 may be separated from theleading edge of the second target 640 by a leading edge gap (asillustrated). Alternatively, the leading edges may be connected orabutting. Similarly, the trailing edge of the first target 620 may beseparated from the trailing edge of the second target 640 by a trailingedge gap, or the trailing edges may be connected or abutting.

Referring to FIGS. 6-8, different target and reflector shapes areillustrated. The targets may have cylindrical portions (e.g., targets620, 640 in FIG. 6). The targets may have corrugated portions (e.g.,targets 720, 740 in FIG. 7). For example, a corrugated portion may havetwo peaks and two or three valleys. The targets may have foil portions(e.g., targets 820, 840 in FIG. 8). Other target shape variations arealso possible. The shapes of the first and second targets may bedifferent from each other.

The targets may have cylindrical portions (e.g., targets 620, 640 inFIG. 6). The targets may have corrugated portions (e.g., targets 720,740 in FIG. 7). The targets may have foil portions (e.g., targets 820,840 in FIG. 8). Other target shape variations are also possible. Theshapes of the first and second targets may be different from each other.

The reflectors may be curved (e.g., reflectors 630, 650 in FIG. 6) orflat (e.g., reflectors 730, 750 in FIG. 7 or reflectors 830, 850 in FIG.8). Other reflector shape variations are also possible. The shapes ofthe first and second reflectors may be different from each other.

Referring to FIG. 10, an apparatus 1000 may have a first UV emitter1010, a second UV emitter 1012, a target 1020, a first reflector 1040,and a second reflector 1050. The target may have a first face that isarranged to receive direct UV energy from the first UV emitter. Thetarget may also have a second face arranged to receive direct UV energyfrom a second UV emitter. The faces of the target may be coated with aphoto-catalytic coating.

The first reflector may receive direct UV energy from the first UVemitter and reflect it towards the first face of the target. The secondreflector may receive direct UV energy from the second UV emitter andreflect it towards the second face of the target. The reflectors may bespecular reflectors and may be grounded. The reflectors may be parabolic(see FIG. 11). A parabolic reflector may be helpful to reflect UV energyin a direction orthogonal to the target 1020.

FIG. 12 shows a flowchart 1200 of a method for ionizing air, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart 1200 may beperformable, for example, with an apparatus such as the ones shown inFIGS. 5-8. Furthermore, the flowchart 1200 may be performable in adifferent order, or some steps may be omitted according to design orpreferences.

At step 1202, UV energy is received from a UV emitter at inner face(s)of a first and/or second target. At step 1204, ions are responsivelygenerated at a photo-catalytic coating on the inner face(s) of thetarget(s). At step 1206, UV energy is passed from the UV emitter andtowards a first and/or second reflector, through a plurality of passagesin the target(s). At step 1208, UV energy is reflected from the UVemitter at the reflector(s) to form reflected UV energy. At step 1210,reflected UV energy is received from the reflector(s) at outer face(s)of the target(s). At step 1212, ions are responsively generated at aphoto-catalytic coating on the outer face(s) of the target(s). At step1214, an airflow is passed over the inner and outer face(s) of thetarget(s) to carry the ions away from the target(s).

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart 1300 of a method for ionizing air, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart 1300 may beperformable, for example, with an apparatus such as the ones shown inFIGS. 10 and 11. Furthermore, the flowchart 1300 may be performable in adifferent order, or some steps may be omitted according to design orpreferences.

At step 1302, UV energy is received from a first and/or second UVemitter at a first and/or second face of a target. At step 1304, ionsare responsively generated at a photo-catalytic coating on the face(s)of the target. At step 1306, UV energy is reflected from the UVemitter(s) at a first and/or second reflector to form reflected UVenergy. At step 1308, reflected UV energy is received from thereflector(s), at the face(s) of the target. At step 1310, ions areresponsively generated at the photo-catalytic coating on the face(s) ofthe target. At step 1312, an airflow is passed over the face(s) of thetarget to carry the ions away from the target.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show an apparatus 900 for ionizing air, according to anembodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 900 may be similar,in some respects, to apparatus 800 shown in FIG. 8. The apparatus 900may include a UV emitter 910, a first foil target portion 920, and asecond foil target portion 940. One or each of the foil target portions920, 940 may have an inner face arranged to receive direct UV energyfrom the UV emitter 910. One or each of the foil target portions 920,940 may have a plurality of passages and may be coated with aphoto-catalytic coating on the inner face. The leading edges of the foilportions may be touching (e.g., abutting, connecting, integrated) or maybe separated by a leading edge gap. The trailing edges of the foilportions may abut or may be separated by a trailing edge gap. Theapparatus 900 may also have one or more reflectors 930 arranged on ornear the inner faces of the first or second foil target portions. Suchreflectors 930 may also be used in combination with other reflectors,such as those shown in FIGS. 5-8.

Turbulence may tend to destroy cluster ions. A foil-shaped target may beuseful to reduce turbulence as airflow passes over. Otherturbulence-reducing techniques may include the use of an airstraightener upstream from a leading edge of a target. Furthermore,higher airflow speeds may be useful for efficiently generating clusterions but not oxidizers. The foil design may accelerate the airflow toimprove the efficiency of this process.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to theparticular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include allembodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. An apparatus for ionizing air, the apparatus comprising: a firstreflector arranged to: receive direct ultra-violet (“UV”) energy from afirst UV emitter, and reflect the direct UV energy from the first UVemitter to form reflected UV energy; a target including: a first facearranged to: receive direct UV energy from the first UV emitter, andreceive the reflected UV energy from the first reflector; and a secondface arranged to receive direct UV energy from a second UV emitter; anda photo-catalytic coating on the first and second faces of the target.